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Original Message
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| RE: 390 "thunking" |
| By Dave Shoe - 08/29/2000 2:05:52 AM; IP 63.226.180.199 |
Thunking sounds serious.
Don't go discounting everything yet, though.
It's true that, at present, a rod might be trying to occupy the same time/space continuum as the crankshaft (hopefully you'll turn the ignition key in a counterclockwise direction before the merger is successful), but much fun remains in this beaten-but-not-beat motor.
If the motor was severely overheated, you might as well drive it hard until you see fireworks (bring a fire extinguisher). A severely overheated motor of any kind (i.e.: run dry of fluids) is no longer worth wrenching on.
But your motor wasn't. I believe I know the kids you bought it from.
It was simply hammered on and run dry of oil, so you've probably got no problems that a good ol' magnaflux and rebuild wouldn't fix right up. Also, 390 motors really are still "dime a dozen". For $300 you can pick up a fine running used 390 (65-and later is preferable, due to the motor mount modifications - you'll find one from a '74 F150) and plop in into your car, with no compatibility issues at all. Earlier motors are fine, too, as they'll tend to kick ass on the '66-later (emission) motors, due to the head design.
I'd probably look at buying a cheap engine stand (if it's really cheap, watch your toes - seriously), and renting a cherry picker twice - once to pluck the motor, and next to plop the motor.
You really need to either replace this motor (keep the original, if not overheated, for parts), or rebuild it yourself. It's important to repair the motor in a pleasant environment. You know: Good tunes, plenty of cold beer, out of earshot of nagging yells, no mosquitos. This is what owning an old car is all about. This is the good life.
Heck, back in the days when I wasn't varnishing six-panel doors, screwing subfloor joists, or replacing goddam roofing shingles (i.e.: back when I rented), I'd find time to rebuild my good ol' FE when the car in the next lane backfired.
You've picked up a snazzy old ride. Don't disgrace it by trying to minimize the repair effort. Yank that motor. Flip it around. Replace every gasket you can find spares for, reinstall the oilpan backwards just for yuks. Maybe even repair the original problem while you're at it.
It's definitely NOT fun to attempt repairing an old Galaxie in the most efficient possible way. Minimum effort also means minimum bonding with your car. This leads to poor communication with your car, and a poor sense of it's operating condition. When you can repeatably predict an operating catastrophe two minutes prior to it's occurance, then you are "at one" with your car.
Get to know yor car, Please! You have already learned what ignoring your children has done for their stunted development - don't repeat this mistake with a true friend and life partner.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that trying to repair your motor while it's still in the car is really gonna suck. It would frustrate and bore the heck outta me. You need to give the repair a "purpose" by planning to "soup it up". This is what FE ownership is all about.
JMO,
Shoe. |
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